The Ministry of Science and ICT and the Korea Foundation for the Advancement of Science & Creativity (KOSAC) prepared a variety of science culture programs across the country that anyone can join to mark April as Science Month. In particular, the Korea Science Festival, the country's flagship science culture event, marks its 30th anniversary this year and will expand from a single-site format to four regions: the greater Seoul area, the Chungcheong region, the Honam region, and the Yeongnam region.
This year's science festival features strengthened participatory programs—such as games, dance, performances, and tasting experiences—to make science and artificial intelligence (AI) more approachable. At the same time, exhibitions and lectures will share advanced research achievements by research institutes with the public.
Each regional venue will also showcase programs combined with local history, culture, and industrial characteristics. In Busan, a leading local food company will take part to introduce the scientific principles behind food, and in Daejeon, media art that fuses science and the arts using Generative AI will greet visitors. At the Ilsan venue in the greater Seoul area, the festival plans to present both the scientific and technological achievements that have enabled today's convenient life and the stories of researchers who overcame failure and setbacks to try again.
Online content will also be prepared to bring the event to life. YouTubers in science, travel, and curiosity genres will visit each festival site to experience the programs firsthand and share their reviews. Science YouTuber "Ullim Science" will visit the Busan Exhibition & Convention Center (BEXCO) in Busan, travel YouTuber "Papa Travel" will go to Daejeon, and science experiment YouTuber "Heopop" will visit KINTEX in Ilsan.
In April, new public participation science culture projects will roll out in addition to the science festival. "Our Neighborhood Science Room" is a science lecture and hands-on program that goes into everyday spaces such as apartment communities, and an open call will be held in April for operating organizations and managers of residents' living spaces.
A "science culture creator training course" will also be offered. This year, the plan is to support creator education and video production focused on the scientific information needed to identify fake news, helping to spread accurate scientific information. "Researcher museum and art museum curation" is a program to train prospective science creators to explain cultural assets and art exhibits scientifically, with a focus on expanding the intersection of science and culture and the arts.
In addition, the "Youth Science Great Expedition," in which students visit research institutes at home and abroad and research facilities of corporations to explore STEM careers, and the "National AI Competition," which tests AI application skills, will begin full-scale recruitment in April through open calls. The "2026 AI Co-Scientist Challenge Korea," which ran through March, has completed judging and is set to announce winners in April.
Events prepared by national science museums, research institutes, and local governments will also continue. Gwacheon National Science Museum will hold the "2026 brand special exhibition Quantum Age" from Apr. 17 to Aug. 23, and the National Science Museum will host "Science Day" from Apr. 17 to 19. Daegu National Science Museum's "Time slip! Great exploration of the dinosaur age," the National Gangwon Science Museum's "Future animals special exhibition," Gwangju National Science Museum's "2026 science spring festival," and Busan National Science Museum's "Special exhibition: creative thinking tools" will also be held in sequence. At 22 institutions nationwide, about 70 science culture programs, including field trips, stargazing, and competitions, will be offered.
Minister Bae Kyung-hoon said, "With April being Science Month, I hope people will have the chance to directly feel the fun and value of science and technology at nearby venues," and added, "The government will carefully pursue policies that support the growth of various science culture stakeholders in line with the changing media environment and public expectations, and ensure that the benefits of science and technology are enjoyed by all generations, regions, and classes."
More information on Science Month programs nationwide is available on the science culture website "Scienceall (www.scienceall.com)."